New Woolston school is 'one of the first of its kind'

THE doors to Wooston Sixth Form have finally opened with Green Lane School head teacher announcing the new complex ‘as one of the first of its kind in the country’.

The new sixth form aims to meet the needs of the most vulnerable youngsters in the area.

The centre, for pupils aged 16 to 19, is part of the first phrase of Woolston Learning Village development, an £8million site for children with special educational needs.

The site will be the new home to pupils from Green Lane Special School in Padgate and Foxwood Special School in Birchwood.

Paul King, who has been the head teacher at Green Lane School for 14 years, said both himself Foxwood head teacher Karen Nicholls, who will work together to run the sixth form, have big aspirations for the future of the new learning village.

He said: “This project has been a long time coming but it is part of a bigger vision.

“We are already looking at how we can provide support for students up to the age of 25. There are plans to get involved with charities to help students develop social enterprise skills.

“We also hope to be able to provide support for children in mainstream schools too.”

The sixth form has six classrooms for around 50 pupils with fitted kitchens to help students build key skills and help them reach their full potential.

“It’s like a stepping stone to independence. By letting them make their own snacks it will teach them how to be independent,” said Mr King.

A food technology studio and three nursing stations have also be built, which will act as a refuge for pupils who need to take time out from the classroom.

Pupils aged four to 16 from the two schools will move into the new facilities in September, which will be constructed to meet both the education and health needs of students.

A purpose built hydrotherapy pool and sports facilities will also open in September and will be available to the wider community.

Comments (2)

Whilst I applaud the availability of funds for children & young adults with special needs ( especially when the council have ruthlessly attempted to cut transport for the same children just recently causing unnecessary anxiety to already desperate parents) why oh why is the site not within a mainstream setting? It is 2014 for goodness sake! Why are these people segregated and isolated yet again because of their different needs on a specialised site? How on earth is society ever go to fully embrace their worth if they are not able to visually see them in their own place of education? As I have said before out of sight out of mind! Children with extra needs should always be included in every walk of life for us to move forward as a society. I'm sure in years to come we will look back in history and be horriified how we used to segregate SEN children away from more " normal" children. A lost opportunity for Warrington - this site could have and should have been included on the site of the new college for everybody's sake.

Whilst I applaud the availability of funds for children & young adults with special needs ( especially when the council have ruthlessly attempted to cut transport for the same children just recently causing unnecessary anxiety to already desperate parents) why oh why is the site not within a mainstream setting? It is 2014 for goodness sake! Why are these people segregated and isolated yet again because of their different needs on a specialised site? How on earth is society ever go to fully embrace their worth if they are not able to visually see them in their own place of education? As I have said before out of sight out of mind! Children with extra needs should always be included in every walk of life for us to move forward as a society. I'm sure in years to come we will look back in history and be horriified how we used to segregate SEN children away from more " normal" children. A lost opportunity for Warrington - this site could have and should have been included on the site of the new college for everybody's sake.Wendyhowell

I totally agree Wendy. This same council last year remorselessly tried to avoid providing statutory transport for some SEN children. The lengths they attempted were shocking and even immoral but because there were such small numbers involved they went under the radar. In regard to the new school - they have merely relocated the existing two schools to one site and expanded as the government are introducing Education, health care plans to cover up to age 25. They have utilised the old Woolston High School site when as you say this should have been thought out properly and situated in a mainstream setting. It is very sad that this has been accepted as a good move when in fact it is a lost opportunity for these people. Despite this I hope the children enjoy their new school and settle in well.

I totally agree Wendy. This same council last year remorselessly tried to avoid providing statutory transport for some SEN children. The lengths they attempted were shocking and even immoral but because there were such small numbers involved they went under the radar. In regard to the new school - they have merely relocated the existing two schools to one site and expanded as the government are introducing Education, health care plans to cover up to age 25. They have utilised the old Woolston High School site when as you say this should have been thought out properly and situated in a mainstream setting. It is very sad that this has been accepted as a good move when in fact it is a lost opportunity for these people. Despite this I hope the children enjoy their new school and settle in well.jimmi